[07/27/09 - 12:56 PM]CBS Television Distribution to Launch Weekly Hour Smash CutsThe series will "capitalize on the popularity of viral videos on the web and bring them to television in a fast-paced, funny and addicting format."

[via press release from CBS]

CBS TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION TO LAUNCH WEEKLY HOUR SMASH CUTS

Cleared in 95% of the Country By Stations From Tribune,
CBS TV Stations And CW 100+ Groups

LOS ANGELES - July 27, 2009 - CBS Television Distribution (CTD) has cleared a new viral web video show, SMASH CUTS, in syndication in 95% of the country, it was announced today by John Nogawski, President of CTD.

The weekend hour, which consists of two fast-paced half-hour episodes, has been sold in all of the top 30 markets to stations in the Tribune, CBS Television Stations and CW 100+ station groups. The show will launch the week of September 27 and will air primarily on CW affiliates including WPIX-TV in New York, KTLA-TV in Los Angeles and WGN-TV in Chicago.

Produced by Renegade 83, SMASH CUTS will capitalize on the popularity of viral videos on the web and bring them to television in a fast-paced, funny and addicting format. A group of hip, pop culture-savvy hosts will guide viewers through the millions of videos in cyberspace, calling out their favorites and creating entertaining theme-related segments. In addition to user-generated content, SMASH CUTS will spotlight the latest professional must-see viral videos, as well as unique videos culled from CTD's vast television library.

"Viral videos have become watercooler conversation, just like talking about last night's episode of your favorite TV show," Nogawski said. "Watching video is one of the most popular reasons people spend time online. We're going to take that experience and bring it to a larger television audience with SMASH CUTS. Stations have responded enthusiastically to this idea."

SMASH CUTS will also give its station affiliates the ability to create a local viral video destination on their own web sites, providing video content from the show to stations as well as allowing viewers to upload their own original videos.

Renegade 83 is a prolific television production company led by David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe. Specializing in the reality television genre, Renegade 83 has produced such hits as "The 4400," "Blind Date" and "The Surreal Life," as well as current shows "Gone Country" and "Mobile Home Disasters."

CBS Television Distribution is the preeminent company in worldwide television syndication. CTD produces or distributes 11 first-run series and holds the largest internationally distributed television library at 70,000 hours strong. Among CTD's critically-acclaimed programs are the #1 syndicated series Wheel of Fortune; the #2 rated game show Jeopardy!; the top two talk shows The Oprah Winfrey Show and Dr. Phil; the Emmy Award-winning talk show Rachael Ray; the #1 entertainment newsmagazine Entertainment Tonight and its sister show The Insider; the #1 newsmagazine Inside Edition; the top two court shows Judge Judy and Judge Joe Brown; the new Dr. Phil spinoff The Doctors; and popular off-network product, including the CSI and Star Trek franchises, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond and Medium. CTD is a unit of CBS Corp.